Abstract: An image which is seen as a natural feeling can be attained in such a manner that a resolution of a photographed image is kept substantially constant irrespective of any variation in condition of an optical system such as an iris diaphragm diameter and a zoom position. For example, in the case that it is adapted for an iris diaphragm diameter, an MTF corresponding to a variation of an iris diaphragm diameter is measured (FIG. 6A) and then a gain of an output of an aperture control circuit capable of canceling a reduction of high frequency component of the image signal corresponding to the measured MTF (FIG. 6B). Then, an iris diaphragm diameter varied during a photographing operation is detected, a gain set in response to the detected iris diaphragm diameter is applied to the aperture control circuit, thereby a control is carried out such that an amplitude of the high frequency component of the brightness signal (FIG. 6C) being kept substantially constant without having any relation with the iris diaphragm.

Abstract: A sensor package assembly for use with an optical assembly includes an optics base mechanism for supporting the optical assembly in relation to an optical axis, an image sensor mounted on a lead frame, and a sensor mounting frame for locating and supporting the image sensor in relation to the optical axis. The optics base mechanism has at least three optics-related locator features, and the sensor mounting frame also has at least three frame-related locator features. By fastening the optics base mechanism and the sensor mounting frame together with the image sensor interposed therebetween such that the optics-related locator features are oriented in opposed relation to the frame-related locator features with the lead frame pinched therebetween, the tilt of the image sensor is controlled relative to the optical axis.

Abstract: Disclosed is an image sensor including one or more dummy pixels that produce a reference signal which is used to compensate for errors within the devices of the main pixel cells. In one embodiment, at least one dummy pixel is used in conjunction with other circuitry to correct for nonlinearities in the transfer characteristic of a source follower transistor within each pixel. In another embodiment, an array of dummy pixels is used to correct for leakage current within the pixels during an electronic shutter mode of operation. The two techniques can be combined whereby both threshold voltage mismatch and leakage current are compensated for.

Abstract: A pinhole camera in which a conical lens with an apical angle of 91.13° to 91.15° is used to correct the fisheye characteristics, and ⅓-inch fixed charged coupled device and a pinhole with a diameter of 0.8 mm are adopted to obtain clear image of a subject in an range from a point closely adjacent to the camera to a point far from the camera with strong contrast. The pinhole video camera comprising: a printed circuit board to which ⅓-inch fixed coupled charged device is attached; a holder fixed so as to cover a front surface of the coupled charged device of the printed circuit board; a lens holder having a pinhole with a diameter of 0.8 mm; a conical convex lens with an apical angle of 91.13° to 91.15°, the conical convex lens fixed on a rear face side of the pinhole of the lens holder.

Abstract: In order to limit the maximum spatial frequency of image light falling upon the array of photosites in an image sensor, an imaging apparatus includes an optical section through which the image light passes and an optical filter including an array of four shaped features placed in mutually spaced relation in the optical section in order to blur the image light and limit the spatial frequencies to values below the Nyquist frequency of the sensor. The optical filter is placed to best effect in the stop of the optical system.

Abstract: An image input apparatus for picking up an image of an object includes an original table (4) having an object placing surface, a camera head (2), a post (3) which supports the camera head (2) to be located above the original table (4) and can be raised/lowered and is arranged at the corner of the original table (4), illumination devices (5,6) for illuminating an object (50) which are folded and stored in side surface portions (4b) of the original table (4), and a transmission illumination device (13) which is illuminated by the illumination devices (5,6).

Abstract: A camera includes a photocathode operable in a night mode wherein electrons are generated in response to incident light, an active pixel sensor including an array of pixels for sensing electrons in the night mode, a power supply for energizing the photocathode in the night mode in response to a control signal, and a power supply control circuit for providing the control signal to the power supply in response to a sensed incident light level. The control signal may be a gating signal having a duty cycle that increases as the sensed incident light level decreases. The camera may be operable in a day mode wherein a fraction of the incident light is transmitted through the photocathode and is sensed by the active pixel sensor. The camera may further include an electron shielded light detector. A light detector signal generated by the electron shielded light detector may be used to control switching between the day mode and the night mode.

Abstract: An improved focusing coupler device for coupling the image capturing portion of an endoscope to a video camera is disclosed. The coupler device includes a housing having an elongate internal chamber defining an optical pathway for connecting the optical image paths of the endoscope and the camera, first and second windows closing off the opposite ends of the chamber, a lens transport assembly disposed in the chamber for relative movement between the ends of the chamber, the lens transport assembly comprising a lens carrier that defines a longitudinal series of rack gear teeth and is movable between the opposite ends of the chamber, and at least one focusing lens mounted to the lens carrier in coaxial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the chamber.

Abstract: A solid state image pick-up device has a rigid retainer having a hollow space, a resilient plate member closing the hollow space, a charge coupled device integrated on a semiconductor chip mounted on the resilient plate member, an optical lens focusing an image on a photo-electric converting region of the charge coupled device and an actuator connected between the bottom surface of the retainer and the resilient plate member so as to deform the resilient plate member and the semiconductor chip, thereby adjusting the surface of the semiconductor chip to a focal plane.

Abstract: An information signal processing device comprises a data holding device which is removably attachable to an information signal generating device for generating a first information signal and which holds information data corresponding to a plurality of kinds of second information signal to be combined with the first information signal and which also holds control data for controlling the combining operation, whereby the second information signal can be combined with the first information signal without special operations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a subsurface instrument and a system for the collection and transmission of deep ocean data utilizing standard buoy mooring lines. The system includes a moored surface buoy and a submerged data collection instrument both inductively coupled to the buoy cable. The instrument has a transducer responsive to the characteristics of seawater. A slave modem is interconnected to the transducer through an A/D converter allowing analog transducer signals to be converted to standard telephone modem signals. The modem signals are inductively coupled into the mooring cable and received by a master modem located in the buoy. The buoy may contain a satellite transceiver allowing transmission of the signals to a remote location. The subsurface instrument is battery powered and battery life is extended by powering down when the instrument is not in use.

Abstract: A TV camera lens device includes a flange back length control signal for moving a master lens group to a position of the proper flange back length in accordance with the operation of a flange back length control. It further includes a macro control signal generating device for outputting a macro control signal for moving the master lens group to a preset macro position where the master lens group is to be positioned during the macro-shooting. Then, either one of the flange back length control signal and the macro control signal is made to take preference in accordance with the operation of a selector switch, and the selected control signal is input to a control circuit. Incidentally, the macro position may be relatively defined as referenced from the position of the proper flange back length.

Abstract: An electronic shutter camera with full frame resolution employs a progressively scanned interline transfer charge coupled device for generating full frame images of objects moving past an observation point either asynchronously in response to an external trigger signal or synchronously with internal timing. The image charges accumulated on the pixel regions of the CCD are discharged once per frame time, and the pixel regions are also initially discharged prior to the beginning of an image charge integration period to remove noise. A special double pulse mode enables the shutter speed to be specified by externally generated double trigger pulses, with the spacing between pulses specifying the desired shutter time. Manual selection of a wide range of shutter speeds is also provided. Each image frame is stored in a digital memory and is output as either interlaced or non-interlaced analog or digital video.

Abstract: A digital power fluctuation detecting apparatus detects fluctuations in a power supply signal and includes a data storage device, coupled to the power supply signal, that stores predetermined digital data signals but modifies at least one stored signal if the power supply signal fluctuates; a data monitoring device that monitors the stored signals; and a power fluctuation detector that determines if the stored signals differ from the predetermined digital data signals.

Abstract: There is disclosed a digital camera in which a lens cover formed with a plurality of holes is attached to a lens barrel. Different items of the print conditions are assigned to the individual holes. The camera senses these holes formed on the cover, recognizes the print conditions based on the sensed image, and transmits the recognized condition to a printing apparatus as print condition data.

Abstract: White balance control for a video camera is strongly influenced by remarkably change of brightness level, color of an object and photographing conditions. An automatic white balance control device according to the present invention for a video camera can control white balance by controlling timming of outputing control signals for controlling gains of amplifiers for control white balance and changing signal process of a picture image in accordance with a percentage of white color shared in the picture image.

Abstract: An image reading device is provided that includes a linear image sensor (such as a CCD), a contrast detecting system, and a focus condition judging system. The focus condition judging system is arranged to detect when the image reading device is in an in-focus condition based on output of the image sensor. Further, a driving mechanism is provided that moves an imaging lens or the image sensor, while the contrast detecting system monitors contrast data calculated from the output of the image sensor. An in-focus condition may be detected when the contrast data substantially reaches a maximum value. The maximum value may be a first maximum value detected during the movement controlled by the driving mechanism or may be a maximum value over a predetermined range of the controlled movement.

Abstract: A hand held label reader is capable of illuminating a label, capturing a digital image of two-dimensional information indicia on the label, and decoding the digital image to provide decoded output data to a terminal. The target label is illuminated by a low variation illuminator that includes a circular LED array mounted behind a plano-concave dispersing lens. The automatic electronic camera, which includes a CCD camera and control circuitry, uses three images to adjust the intensity of the digital image and store a properly exposed image of the label in video RAM. The intensity of the digital image is adjusted by controlling the video system gain via adjusting the CCD array's integration time, the gain of a video amplifier, and the gain provided by an analog-to-digital converter. The gain provided by the analog-digital-converter is adjusted to compensate for the attenuation of light through the camera's lens assembly. For the first image, the digital image is obtained using a default setting for the gain.

Abstract: A branch image pickup and view system includes an objective lens system, an image pickup surface which is adapted to pick up an image formed by the objective lens system, an eyepiece lens system through which an image formed by the objective lens system is viewed, an optical separation system provided behind the objective lens system to split light into a light bundle for the image pickup surface and a light bundle for the eyepiece lens system, a condenser lens provided in the optical path from said optical separation system to said optical eyepiece system to relay the image formed through the objective lens system to the eyepiece lens system, and an optical enlargement system which is provided between the optical separation system and the condenser lens.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for driving a solid state image pickup device. The method and apparatus include setting a first signal charging period and a second signal charging period during one frame or field of a video signal for each one of a plurality of unit pixels. The second signal charging period is shorter than the first signal charging period. A first signal charge is produced during the first signal charging period and a second signal charge is produced during the second signal charging period. It is judged whether the first signal charge is saturated or not saturated. Then based on this judgement an input light amount is determined. The input light amount is determined using only the second signal charge when the first signal charge is saturated. The input light amount is determined using only the first signal charge when the first signal charge is not saturated.